Compton Abbas Airfield

Located at the top of a hill, deep in the heart of the Dorset countryside, in the Cranborne Chase Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Compton Abbas Airfield is situated near the village of the same name, and lies about 40 minutes west of Salisbury, 15 minutes north of Blandford Forum, and just over 10 minutes south from the market town of Shaftesbury, best known for the ancient cobbles of Gold Hill, made famous in the Hovis TV adverts in the 1970s.

It was first established a decade before that, in May 1962, by the Shaftesbury Flying Club, and quickly became one of the most popular general aviation airfields in the county, and remains a very desirable airfield for those flying light aircrafts, particularly during the summer months.

It was in the hands of the Hughes family for 35 years, up until February 2023, when it was bought by the acclaimed British film director, Guy Ritchie, who owns the neighbouring Ashcombe Estate. For those looking for Vintage Flying Experiences in the South West of England, Compton Abbas Airfield offers plenty to enjoy.

Of particular interest will be the Biplane Flights and the flights in an iconic Boeing Stearman biplane, that was in frequent use as a military training biplane by the US Navy, Canadian Air Force and US Air Force during WWII.

Flying sessions for the former are available to book in blocks of 15, 30 or 60 minutes starting from just £159, whilst the latter is available to book for sessions of 15, 30, 45 or 60 minutes, starting from as little as £199.

The light aircraft community at Compton Abbas is thriving and vibrant, and there's also a well-loved, family friendly restaurant and bar on-site offering breakfast / brunch, lunch and dinner, which also serves locally brewed Gritchie beer. All in all, Compton Abbas Airfield should provide a truly exciting day up in the air on a flying experience!